The ability to astral project is something which every person already possesses; we are in fact born being able to do this. So why are there those who can astral project at will and those who have much less success with the technique? The answer is simple ? practice. The practice of astral projection has a very long history, just like meditation and yoga. There are many different names by which astral projection is known and many ways that you can astral project.

One of these techniques is lucid dreaming, something which is very familiar to most of us. Lucid dreaming is the ability to become conscious within a dream and take control of the happenings within it. All you need to do to begin lucid dreaming is to tell yourself ?I am dreaming? while you are in a dream.

However, it can take some time to become skilled in the technique of lucid dreaming, making this perhaps not the best way for beginners to astral projecting to use in their efforts to astral project.

You have already astral projected, even if you are not specifically aware of it. For example, if you have ever awakened from a dream remembering each and every detail, you were actually astral projecting! This has happened to everyone at some time or another, even if you haven?t heard of astral projecting.

The ability to astral project starts with believing that you can do this. Everyone can astral project ? it?s just a matter of freeing your mind of the doubts which are keeping you from astral projecting.

Meditation and other relaxation techniques can help you start getting ready to astral project. Meditation is probably the best way to begin; look for a meditation technique which allows you to achieve the total relaxation needed to astral project.

Choose a room where you will not be distracted, have a comfortable place to sit and where you will be able to have peace and quiet. Free your mind of worrying thoughts ? you need to clear your mind of all thoughts in order to be able to astral project.

To reach an altered state of consciousness, focus more and more on you breathing, which should be slow and deep. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, breathing deeper and slower as you become more relaxed. Concentrate on relaxing your body even more.

Starting from your toes and working your way up, relax each part of your body. You can do this by gently tensing, then relaxing each part as you work towards your head or simply focus on relaxing each part as you exhale.

With each exhalation, you should feel the tension leaving your body. Once your body is completely and totally relaxed you will be ready to move onto the next stage necessary for you to successfully astral project.

Although you?re so relaxed by this point that it would be very easy to go to sleep, you need to stay alert. One good way to do this is to recite a sort of mantra to repeat to yourself. Anything will do ? you can even just say 'walk the dog, walk the dog'.

When our minds have nothing else to do, they tend to wander ? and this can spoil the concentration you need to astral project. Keep repeating your phrase to stay focused.

There are a few different ways that you can reach the altered state needed to astral project. You can attain this state by continuing to repeat your mantra. Many find the 'body of light' technique to be very effective as well. In this technique, you imagine yourself transforming into a body made of light.

There are a few sings to be aware of that you are successfully starting to astral project. You?ll feel like you are moving while your body stays in place. You?ll start to see colors and lights, even with your eyes closed. The third sign is hearing voices ? these voices may urge you to stop what you?re doing or provide encouragement to keep going; this will let you know that you are astral projecting.